Gyratory crusher frame and method of making same

ABSTRACT

A crusher frame for a gyratory crusher which is fabricated from preformed components which are all welded together. Standard commercial tubing is utilized for the central hub and also for the countershaft housing. The tubular inner and outer shells are fabricated from rolled sheet steel. The fabrication of the crusher is accomplished by first fabricating the inner hub assembly, then fabricating the outer shell assembly and then inverting the latter and inserting the inner assembly into the outer assembly for final weld-up. The completed crusher frame permits oil drainage from the top of the frame and completely circumferentially around the frame. A rectangular adapter plate is utilized to form the inner support for the countershaft housing.

[ 1 Oct. 22, 1974 GYRATORY CRUSHER FRAME AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME [75] Inventors: Frank M. Allen, Bayside; Ronald B.

De Diemar, Brown Deer; Kenneth C. Ehlert, Glendale, all of Wis.

[73] Assignee: Barber Greene Company, Aurora,

22 Filed: Apr. 12, 1973 211 Appl.No.:350,508

3,605,255 9/1971 Metzger et a1, 29/474.3 UX 3,747,19 7/1973 Riel 29/47l.3 3,774,858 11/1973 Archer et a1 241/285 R Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Howard N. Goldberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James E. Nilles [57] ABSTRACT A crusher frame for a gyratory crusher which is fabricated from preformed components which are all welded together. Standard commercial tubing is utilized for the central hub and also for the countershaft housing. The tubular inner and outer shells are fabricated from rolled sheet steel. The fabrication of the crusher is accomplished by first fabricating the inner hub assembly, then fabricating the outer shell assembly and then inverting the latter and inserting the inner assembly into the outer assembly for final weldup. The completed crusher frame permits oil drainage from the top of the frame and completely circumfer entially around the frame. A rectangular adapter plate is utilized to form the inner support for the counter shaft housing.

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PATENTEDHBT 22 m4 EJ843368 saw 80? 9 GYRATORY CRUSHER FRAW AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to the fabrication of main frames for gyratory crushers. These main frames are extremely large and heavy and in some prior art frames, the central hub portion was of case construction. Fabricated steel components were then welded to the cast central hub portion and the manufacturing, machining and assembly of these various parts were very laborious, time consuming and expensive.

One type of such prior art composite main frame assembly is shown in the US. patent application Ser. No. 212,330, filed Dec. 27, 1971, issued on Nov. 27, 1973 as US. Pat. No. 3,774,858 and entitled Gyratory Crusher Main Frame, which application has been assigned to an assignee common with the present application, and in which the large central hub is cast integrally with the countershaft housing and furthermore, radially extending arm support portions were also cast integrally with the central hub. Such a central hub was extremely heavy, difficult to handle, difficult to machine, and costly to manufacture.

Other examples of the prior art structures are shown in the US. Pat. No. 3,150,839 issued Sept. 29, 1962 entitled Crusher Frame which patent also utilized a cast steel central hub and attaching portions to which other steel fabricated parts were welded. Another example of a prior art structure is shown in the US. Pat. No. 2,860,837 which issued Nov. 18, 1958 and entitled Crusher Main Frame. That patent also utilized a central cast hub assembly of complex design which was extremely unwieldy to handle and machine and the assembly was difficult to weld up. Still another prior art frame of all fabricated design is shown in the U5. Pat. No. 2,155,393 issued Apr. 25, 1939, entitled Crusher Frame.

These prior art structures did not provide for complete oil drainage through and circumferentially around the frame. In addition, the sequence for welding these prior art frames together was very awkward, it being difficult to position the various parts for maximum welding efficiency and other manufacturing processes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an all-fabricated gyratory crusher main frame and method of making the frame, which frame is comprised of prefabricated steel parts, and which frame requires no cast parts. More specifically, the invention provides such a main frame in which a standard commercial tubing is utilized for the central hub and also for the countershaft housing, thus considerably reducing the labor and cost required to make up the frame, by facilitating easier assembly and manufacturing processes. The crusher frame provided by the present invention provides for complete oil drainage from the top of the frame and completely circumferentially around the frame. The assembly method of the main frame is such that the hub assembly is assembled first and the remaining outer assembly of the crusher frame is built outwardly around the inner hub assembly thereby insuring the concentricity of the various parts and necessitating a minimum amount of machining of the stock material.

Still another aspect of the invention relates to the tying in of the main bearing support to the central hub member and the frame arms to thereby minimize bending moments of the crushing frame. The invention utilizes a rectangular plate to form the inner support for the countershaft housing which also provides for the transition from a curved tubular form to a rectangular and flat support for the central hub. Generally, the frame provided by the present invention permits the use of flat, butt-ups of mating pieces so as to eliminate the need for complex fit-up and scarfing operations.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the hub assembly prior to welding of the various component parts to the central, tubular hub;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the hub and its radial arms welded together, and furthermore showing the drive shaft housing and its associated parts welded together;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the next step in the fabrication of the crusher frame, namely, when the central hub assembly has been completely welded together, the as sembly being shown in an inverted position;

FIG. 4 is a view of the central hub assembly shown in FIG. 3 but on an enlarged scale, together with the inner shell, the bottom plate, the labyrinth seal ring, and the inner shell segments;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the various parts of FIG. 4 when assembled and welded together and the assembly resting on a fixture suppport;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 5, but taken from a different position and on a slightly increased scale;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the top ring assembly including the top ring and the concave bearing support ring, the assembly being in the inverted position and around a centering jig fixture;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the outer shell welded to the underside of the top ring assembly;

FIG. 9 is a view of the assembly as shown in FIG. 8 and also showing the inner assembly of FIG. 6 and furthermore, showing the base plate, all three of which are shown in exploded relationship and in an inverted position and prior to assembly with one another;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but without the base plate and assembly when slipped into the outer assembly;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but then showing the base plate welded in position;

FIG. 12 is a perspective, generally bottom view of the frame shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is another perspective view of the frame shown in FIG. 12, but taken when the assembly is in the normal, upright position;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the completed main crusher frame;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the frame shown in FIG. 14, the view being taken generally along the line l5l5 in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a horizontal, cross sectional view taken generally along the line l616 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an elevational view of the frame, partially in section, the vertical sectional view being taken along line 1717 in FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 shows a modification of the ring of FIG. 17.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFEED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the central hub 1 is formed from a pre-fabricated tubular steel member. This hub has a thick wall section and is of considerable weight. The hub can be purchased as a standard tube. The hub is slipped into a large heavy, center ring 2 and is welded thereto adjacent the top end of the hub, it being understood that the hub shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is in the inverted position. Two circumferentially spaced and radially extending arms 3 and 4 are welded to the hub and to the center ring 2, each arm comprising a pair of side plates 3a and 4a,top plate 6 and bottom plate 5. In addition, three support gussets 8, 9, and 10 are welded to the hub and ring and extend radially therefrom. Thus these arms of rectangular, tubular construction and welded at their inner ends to the periphery of the hub and to the center ring and form a very strong and rigid structure.

The center ring is the main bearing support and it is secured to the center hub and to the heavy, rectangular box construction frame arms 3 and 4 which minimizes bending moments in the frame.

The countershaft housing 12 is also formed of a standard commercial steel tube and is welded at its inner end to a rectangular, heavy steel plate 13 which functions as a transition or adapter plate, as willl appear. The plate 13 has a central hole 14 therein which is aligned with the inner portion of the housing 12. A pair of complementary, opposed clamps 16 and 17 are welded to the outer end of the countershaft housing 12. Two-vertical arms 20 and 21 are then welded to the side of the rectangular plate 13 which is opposite the housing 12, as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the countershaft housing assembly 25 is then welded to the central hub assembly 26 and this is accomplished by welding the inner ends of vertical arms 20 and 21 to the periphery of the tubular hub 1.

The assembly 33 shown in FIG. 3 is also shown in the central portion of FIG. 4, but the perspective view is taken from a different angle. A generally tubular inner shell 30 has a pair of slots 31 and an open side 32, the shell thus is adapted to be slipped over the hub assem' bly 33 so that the slots 31 engage over and around the arms 3 and 4, and the open side 32 of the shell 30 is embraced against the inner side of the rectangular adapter plate 13, and more specifically, at the juncture of the vertical arms 20 and 21 with that plate. As clearly shown in FIG. 16 for example, the shell 30 is then welded to the radially extending arms 3 and 4, to the adapter plate 13, to the radial arms 20 and 21, and to the gussets 8, 9 and 10. Referring to FIGS. 9, 15 and 17, inner shell segments 34, 35 and 36 are eventually welded across the ends, respectively, of the open side 32, and slots 31, so as to fully close the inner shell. As will appear, lubricating oil can then be confined all around the inside of the inner shell.

FIG. 4 also shows a labyrinth seal ring 40 resting on a jig plate 41. A base plate is also shown in exploded relationship to the inner shell to which it is to be welded.

The radial arms 3 and 4 extend radially beyond the inner shell 30 and terminate in free ends. As shown in FIG. 5, the shell 30 is welded to the seal ring 40, as at 42. Segments 34, 35 and 36, (FIGS. 9, 15 and 17) are welded across the ends of slots 31 and opening 32 as previously mentioned, and welded to the shell 30 so as to enclose the area under the arms 3 and 4 and under the counter shaft housing 12.

The base plate 50 is welded as at 51 (FIG. 6) to the other end of the jacket 30 and the adapter plate 13 to produce the inner assembly 53 shown in FIG. 6.

Reference will now be made to the fabrication of the outer assembly of the main crusher frame. As shown in FIG. 7, an upper concave support ring 60 (See FIGS. 13 and 17) has been welded to a flat ring 62 and an outermost vertical ring 63 has also been welded to the outer edge of ring flange 62, thus providing an upper ring assembly for the main crusher frame. This ring assembly is shown in the inverted position in FIGS. 7-11 from the normal position.

As shown in FIG. 8, a tubular outer shell of the main crusher frame is welded as at 71 to the concave support ring 60, forming an outer assembly 77. This outer shell has two circumferentially spaced openings 74, 75 which are adapted to receive, respectively, the radially extending arms 3 and 4. This is illustrated in FIG. 9 where the inner assembly 53 is about to be inserted downwardly into engagement with the outer assembly 77, the counter shaft housing 12 seating in the curved opening 78 formed in the outer shell 70 and welded therein. Arms 3 and 4 do not extend through the outer shell 70, but terminate approximately halfway through the shell wall where they are then welded as at 79 to the slotted openings 74 and 75 in the shell wall. FIG. 10 shows the inner assembly 33 in place.

A base plate 80 (FIGS. 9 and 11) of generally rectangular outer configuration, having a large central opening 81, is set on the lower end of the outer shell 70, and is then welded to the bottom edge of the shell 70. The base plate 80 has a cut-away portion 82 (FIGS. 12, 13, 15, and 16) which slips over the opposite sides of the tubular counter shaft housing 12 and is welded thereto, thus rigidfying the entire structure.

FIG. 12 shows the assembly of FIG. 11, but the view being taken generally from the bottom of the assembly.

FIG. 13 is another view of the assembly when the latter is in the normal up-right position.

The present invention also provides a crusher frame which, with small modification, can accommodate different size seal rings and therefore, provide two distinct crusher frames with a great majority of the parts of the frames being common for each size crusher. In other words, with a crusher for a very fine crushing, a larger seal ring 40a would be used as shown in FIG. 18. Thus, the ring 4011 is of larger diameter than the ring 40 shown in FIG. 17. The only change needed in the crusher frame over that shown in FIG. 17 is to weld an annular flat plate 83 to theupper end of the shell 30 and then weld a vertical wall 84 to the outer edge of plate 83. The larger seal ring 40a is then welded to the upper end of the wall 84 to accommodate the other parts (not shown) of a very fine crusher. In this manner, the inner shell 30 can be modified slightly in its mounting for the seal ring, this being the only change necessary to render the main frame suitable for what is ferred to as a very fine crusher.

RECAPITULATION The hub l and the counter shaft housing 12 are formed from standard commercial pieces of tubing which are readily obtained and comparatively inexpensive when compared to prior art center hubs. The inner shell and outer shell 70 are formed by rolling steel sheets and are thus easily and economically fabricated. All other components are also readily formed from stock steel material.

The main bearing support ring 2. is tied in to the central hub l and also to the rigid rectangular in cross section frame arms of box-like construction, and this fabrication of components minimizes bending moments in the crusher frame.

The rectangular adapter plate 113 forms the inner support for the countershaft housing and makes the transition from a tube to a rectangular support for the center hub.

The annular space which extends completely circumferentially around the central hub, and between the central hub and inner shell, permits complete oil drainage from the top of the frame and for the entire distance around the frame, and allows wide distribution of oil for lubrication of the crusher drive means. The cavity at the lower portion within the shell 30 functions as an oil reservoir for the lubricating oil. This is particularly important in a crusher of this type where the various bearings must be adequately and continuously lubricated. Furthermore, this annular space which extends completely circumferentially around the central hub, allows wide distribution of oil against the tubular inner shell 30thereby cooling the oil rapidly and allowing the crusher to run cooler.

The assembly of the crusher is such that the frame is built around or grows out from the central hub and thus concentricity of parts is more easily maintained and with a minimum machining of the stock material. Generally, the use of flat butt-up or mating pieces eliminates the need for complicated fit-up and searfmg op erations.

We claim:

1. A gyratory crusher main frame comprising, a tubular central hub, an adapter plate having a central opening therethrough; a tubular countershaft housing welded at one end to one side of said adapter plate and in alignment with said central opening, vertical arms welded between said hub and the other side of said adapter plate, tubular arms welded at their inner ends to said hub and extending therefrom, a tubular inner shell concentrically arranged around said hub and said arms and welded thereto, said arms protruding through and radially beyond said inner shell and terminating in free ends, said inner shell also being welded to said adapter plate to thereby form an annular space between said hub and inner shell, a tubular outer shell arranged concentrically around said inner shell and having openings for receiving said free ends, said free ends being welded in their opening, and a base plate located at the lower edge of said tubular outer shell and welded thereto, said base plate also embracing and welded to said counter shaft housing.

2. A gyratory crusher main frame comprising, a vertical tubular central hub, an adapter plate of generally rectangular shape and having a central opening therethrough; a tubular countershaft housing welded at one end to one side of said adapter plate and in alignment with said central opening, a pair of steel plate vertical arms welded between the periphery of said vertical hub and the other side of said adapter plate, a pair of rectangular tubular arms welded at their inner ends to the periphery of said hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom, a vertically disposed tubular inner shell formed of rolled sheet steel and concentrically arranged around said hub and extending around said arms intermediate the length of said arms, said arms protruding radially beyond said inner shell and terminating in free ends, said inner shell being welded to said arms and to said adapter plate to thereby form an annular space between said hub and inner shell, a tubular outer shell formed of rolled sheet steel and concentrically arranged around said inner shell, said outer shell having an opening therethrough for receiving each of said radial arms free end, said free ends being welded in their respective outer shell opening, and a horizontally disposed base plate having a central opening around the lower edge of said tubular outer shell and welded thereto, said base plate extending radially out wardly from around said outer shell, said base plate also having a cut away portion in which said counter shaft housing is located and welded therein.

3. A gyratory crusher main frame comprising, a vertical tubular central hub formed of tubular steel stock, a vertically positioned steel adapter plate of generally rectangular shape and having a central opening therethrough; a tubular countershaft housing formed of tubular steel stock and welded at one end to one side of said adapter plate and in alignment with said central opening, a pair of steel plate vertical arms welded to and between the periphery of said vertical hub and the other side of said adapter plate, a pair of steel tubular arms of rectangular cross section and welded at their inner ends to the periphery of said hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom, a vertically disposed tubular inner shell formed of rolled sheet steel and concentrically arranged around said hub and extending around said arms intermediate the length of said arms, said arms protruding radially beyond said inner shell and terminating in free ends, said inner shell being welded to said arms and to said adapter plate to thereby fonn an annular space all around and between said hub and inner shell, a tubular outer shell formed of rolled sheet steel and concentrically arranged around said inner shell, said outer shell having an opening therethrough for receiving each of said radial arms free end, said free ends being welded in their respective outer shell opening, said outer shell at least partially abutting against said countershaft housing and welded thereto, and a horizontally disposed base plate having a central opening around the lower edge of said tubular outer shell and welded thereto, said base plate extending radially outwardly from around said. outer shell, said base plate also having a cut away portion in which said counter shaft housing is located and welded therein.

4. A central hub assembly for a gyratory cmsher main frame comprising, a vertical tubular center hub formed of tubular steel stock, a main bearing ring mounted around said hub and welded thereto, a pair of fabricated tubular arms of rectangular cross section and welded at their inner ends to the periphery of said hub and to said main bearing ring and extending radially outwardly therefrom, an adapter plate of generally rectangular shape and having a central opening therethrough; a tubular countershaft housing welded at one end to one side of said adapter plate and in alignment with said central opening, and a pair of steel plate vertical arms welded between the periphery of said vertical hub and the other side of said adapter plate.

5. In a gyratory crusher main frame having a vertically disposed tubular inner shell formed of rolled sheet steel stock, said shell having an upper end and a lower end, a separate steel flat base plate welded across the lower end of said tubular shell, and a labyrinth seal ring welded to and concentric with the upper end of said shell.

6. The method of fabricating a crusher main frame comprising, preparing a central hub assembly by welding radially extending steel arms to the periphery of a tubular hub, welding a tubular countershaft housing to an adapter plate and then connecting said plate to said central hub by welding a pair of vertical steel plate arms between said hub and adapter plate, securing a generally tubular inner shell concentrically around said inner hub by welding said inner shell to said adapter plate and to said arms; preparing an outer shell assembly by positioning a top ring in a horizonral position and concentrically arranged around a center jig fixture, welding a vertically disposed, tubular outer shell to said ring, inserting said central hub assembly into said outer shell and around said center jig fixture whereby said radially extending arms are properly positioned in abutting relationship with said outer shell, and welding said radially extending arms to said outer shell. 

1. A gyratory crusher main frame comprising, a tubular central hub, an adapter plate having a central opening therethrough; a tubular countershaft housing welded at one end to one side of said adapter plate and in alignment with said central opening, vertical arms welded between said hub and the other side of said adapter plate, tubular arms welded at their inner ends to said hub and extending therefrom, a tubular inner shell concentrically arranged around said hub and said arms and welded thereto, said arms protruding through and radially beyond said inner shell and terminating in free ends, said inner shell also being welded to said adapter plate to thereby form an annular space between said hub and inner shell, a tubular outer shell arranged concentrically around said inner shell and having openings for receiving said free ends, said free ends being welded in their opening, and a base plate located at the lower edge of said tubular outer shell and welded thereto, said base plate also embracing and welded to said counter shaft housing.
 2. A gyratory crusher main frame comprising, a vertical tubular central hub, an adapter plate of generally rectangular shape and having a central opening therethrough; a tubular countershaft housing welded at one end to one side of said adapter plate and in alignment with said central opening, a pair of steel plate vertical arms welded between the periphery of said vertical hub and the other side of said adapter plate, a pair of rectangular tubular arms welded at their inner ends to the periphery of said hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom, a vertically disposed tubular inner shell formed of rolled sheet steel and concentrically arranged around said hub and extending around said arms intermediate the length of said arms, said arms protruding radially beyond said inner shell and terminating in free ends, said inner shell being welded to said arms and to said adapter plate to thereby form an annular space between said hub and inner shell, a tubular outer shell formed of rolled sheet steel and concentrically arranged around said inner shell, said outer shell having an opening therethrough for receiving each of said radial arms free end, said free ends being welded in their respective outer shell opening, and a horizontally disposed base plate having a central opening around the lower edge of said tubular outer shell and welded thereto, said base plate extending radially outwardly from around said outer shell, said base plate also having a cut away portion in which said counter shaft housing is located and welded therein.
 3. A gyratory crusher main frame comprising, a vertical tubular central hub formed of tubular steel stock, a vertically positioned steel adapter plate of generally rectangular shape and having a central opening therethrough; a tubular countershaft housing formed of tubular steel stock and welded at one end to one side of said adapter plate and in alignment with said central opening, a pair of steel plate vertical arms welded to and between the periphery of said vertical hub and the other side oF said adapter plate, a pair of steel tubular arms of rectangular cross section and welded at their inner ends to the periphery of said hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom, a vertically disposed tubular inner shell formed of rolled sheet steel and concentrically arranged around said hub and extending around said arms intermediate the length of said arms, said arms protruding radially beyond said inner shell and terminating in free ends, said inner shell being welded to said arms and to said adapter plate to thereby form an annular space all around and between said hub and inner shell, a tubular outer shell formed of rolled sheet steel and concentrically arranged around said inner shell, said outer shell having an opening therethrough for receiving each of said radial arms free end, said free ends being welded in their respective outer shell opening, said outer shell at least partially abutting against said countershaft housing and welded thereto, and a horizontally disposed base plate having a central opening around the lower edge of said tubular outer shell and welded thereto, said base plate extending radially outwardly from around said outer shell, said base plate also having a cut away portion in which said counter shaft housing is located and welded therein.
 4. A central hub assembly for a gyratory crusher main frame comprising, a vertical tubular center hub formed of tubular steel stock, a main bearing ring mounted around said hub and welded thereto, a pair of fabricated tubular arms of rectangular cross section and welded at their inner ends to the periphery of said hub and to said main bearing ring and extending radially outwardly therefrom, an adapter plate of generally rectangular shape and having a central opening therethrough; a tubular countershaft housing welded at one end to one side of said adapter plate and in alignment with said central opening, and a pair of steel plate vertical arms welded between the periphery of said vertical hub and the other side of said adapter plate.
 5. In a gyratory crusher main frame having a vertically disposed tubular inner shell formed of rolled sheet steel stock, said shell having an upper end and a lower end, a separate steel flat base plate welded across the lower end of said tubular shell, and a labyrinth seal ring welded to and concentric with the upper end of said shell.
 6. The method of fabricating a crusher main frame comprising, preparing a central hub assembly by welding radially extending steel arms to the periphery of a tubular hub, welding a tubular countershaft housing to an adapter plate and then connecting said plate to said central hub by welding a pair of vertical steel plate arms between said hub and adapter plate, securing a generally tubular inner shell concentrically around said inner hub by welding said inner shell to said adapter plate and to said arms; preparing an outer shell assembly by positioning a top ring in a horizonral position and concentrically arranged around a center jig fixture, welding a vertically disposed, tubular outer shell to said ring, inserting said central hub assembly into said outer shell and around said center jig fixture whereby said radially extending arms are properly positioned in abutting relationship with said outer shell, and welding said radially extending arms to said outer shell. 